Soft textured pouch for foot warming

ABSTRACT

A soft textured pouch for foot warming, formed of an integral piece of fabric, having an outer fabric layer, with the interior layer of the fabric having a substantially woolen texture, the top surface and bottom surface of the pouch are integral, folded over at the bottom, and then the side edges are temporarily fastened by means of a fastener device, such as hook and pile fastener, buttons, or related types of fasteners to form an openable pouch.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to a soft textured pouch, formed of a combination of a cloth material, having a wooly and furry textured addition upon one of its surfaces, and which when folded into the configuration of a pouch, with the strands of wooly material located internally thereof, can properly warm and maintain the warmth of the ankles and the feet of the user, particularly when in colder climates, as when such warmth is desired.

BACKGROUND

This invention relates to a soft textured pouch foot and ankle warmer, which can be applied by a user or sleeper at the lower end of the bed, with the soft textured pouch having a wooly like texture maintained internally of the folded formed pouch, to provide for the maintenance of the warmth of the feet, ankle, and lower legs of the user, during its application.

Various types of cover type warming devices for warmth are available. The electric blanket was obviously designed to generate heat, warm the sleeper, particularly where colder climatic conditions exist, such as in the northern United States, and Canada, as could be understood. But, the electric blanket requires an electric plug in, which must be sustained, if the generation of heat is what is sought and desired.

Various types of foot warming pockets have been disclosed, such as can be seen in design patent number U.S. D829,022, which shows a foot warmer, formed as a pocket, having an upper extending bottom layer, and in which the feet of the user may locate, to obtain warmth.

There have been many other foot type warmers that have been available, such as slippers that have a soft textured interior, or even heated socks, that can be used for the same purpose.

The U.S. Pat. No. 8,707,481, shows an extremity warming type blanket. Usage of this blanket is explained to furnish quickly warm hands, arms, legs, and feet of the user, while requiring no wires or electricity.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,288,110, shows a rather particularly designed heating device for heating a user’s hands and feet.

These are examples of prior art known to the applicant and disclosing related structures.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a foot and ankle warmer, having a composite material of an outer reasonably stiff cloth, having a wooly and furry texture upon its opposite surface, and which when the composite material is folded into the form of a pouch, the wooly texture is arranged internally, in order to function as a naturally warming device for the feet and ankles of the user, while resting and sleeping.

The concept of this invention is to utilize a soft textured material, having an outer liner or layer of cloth material that has some relative stiffness to it, but less than that of canvas material, and has sufficient rigidity, like a linen, or the like, so that it will avoid curling or folding, while it is being applied by the user while sleeping. The opposite surface of the cloth includes a very wooly like texture, like that of a sheepskin, with a length of that furry and wooly texture being in the range of approximately ¼” to 1″, or more, so that such textured material can embrace around the feet and ankle of the user, and to generate body warmth that can maintain the warmth of these body parts, during prolonged usage and application of this invention.

As has well been experienced by everyone, particularly when exposed during colder weather conditions, such as during the fall, winter, and early spring, in those regions where colder temperatures are generated during the winter weather, such as in the central to northern United States, and Canada, as an example, sleepers often times have experienced colder extremities, in the region of the feet and ankle, and just’ locating those body parts under a blanket, does not alleviate the problem. Obviously, an electric blanket can remedy that condition, but that requires far more expensive equipment, and access to electrical outlet, in order to utilize that type of equipment to alleviate the problem as described.

The current invention, is formed of a wooly textured cloth material, that may be folded over into the formation of a pouch, having an upper surface and a lower surface, and with the interior surfaces being of a wool like texture, as described, in order to enhance the warmth of the feet of the user, during its application. The pouch may have a wider opening at its upper area, so as to allow for a more easy accommodating the sliding insertion of the feet of the user therein, while the bottom or lower end of the pouch will simply be closed, by the fold line between the upper and lower surfaces that form the subject pouch.

Thus, the pouch may be wider at its open upper end, than at the lower end, as can be understood.

The side edges of the formed pouch may be fabricated into and incorporate an openable fastener, along the length of the side edges, so that the pouch may be opened, at the sides like that of a larger bath towel, and can be placed into a washing machine and dryer, when hygienic conditions require that the pouch be washed and renovated, for further usage. Then, after a washing, the pouch may be reformed, and the fasteners along the sides may be formed into closure, to complete the formation of the usable pouch.

The type of fasteners that may work satisfactorily for the desired embodiment may be lengths of Velcro that extend along the edges of the pouch from its bottom to its upper opening, and as noted, the hook and pile type of fastener may be secured into the closure, and retained in that condition rather favorably, but can be easily pulled open, when it is desired to open the pouch for washing purposes.

Or, it is just as likely that a series of buttons may be provided along the side edges of the pouch, and locate through buttonholes, in order to furnish such closure. Or, various clasps can be located along the side edges, to provide for such openable securement, as may be required.

It is, therefore, a principal object of this invention to provide an openable pouch, which when maintained in closure, can enhance the warming of the feet and ankles of the user, during resting.

Another object of this invention is to provide a pouch, in which its side edges may be opened, when it is desired to provide for a washing of the formed warming device.

A further object of this invention is to provide fastening means along the side edges of a formed pouch, such as hook and pile fasteners, buttons, clasps, and related type of fasteners. One may even consider the use of zippers at those locations.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a textured cloth, in the range of a linen, having such stiffness, so as to prevent curling of the pouch during its usage and manipulation, particularly when inserting the feet of the user into the pouch in preparation for application.

A further object of this invention is to provide such a linen type of cloth to form the outer surface of the pouch, but having a fully wooly textured interior, like that of sheep skin, or polymer formed type of imitation wool, that can generate and retain the heat of the body when the ankle and feet of the user are located through its upper opening in preparation for sleeping.

These and other objects may become more apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the Summary of the Invention as provided herein, and upon undertaking a study of its Description of its Preferred Embodiments, in view of the Drawings.

In referring to the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the textured form pouch of this invention, showing its upper opened and, fold at the bottom and being fastened along its side edges in preparation for usage;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the pouch;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the pouch, the opposite side being a mirror image thereof;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the opened end of the formed pouch;

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the fold of the formed pouch;

FIG. 6 shows the pouch in the process of being folded, showing its interior wooly texture, with the fastening means provided along the side edges to hold the pouch in closure during usage;

FIG. 7 shows a modification to the formed pouch where the side edges may be stitched;

FIG. 8 shows an isometric view of the formed pouch and disclosing the use of hook and pile fasteners securing the side edges into closure;

FIG. 9 shows a related isometric view of the pouch; .

FIG. 10 is a further modified view of the fastening means used to hold the pouch into closure;

FIG. 11 shows the use of hook and pile fasteners locating in the spacing provided along the side edges, to hold the pouch into closure; and

FIG. 12 shows a sectional view through the pouch of FIG. 11 , and disclosing its hook and pile fastening means, and interior wooly texture.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In referring to the drawings, and in particular FIGS. 1 and 2 , the soft textured pouch for foot warming 1 is readily disclosed. As can be seen, there is a top surface 2 for the pouch, and a bottom surface 3, and for convenience, these two surfaces are of one piece, and folded, as they fold at its bottom, when assembled. The side edges 5 and 6 can be held together by fasteners, or even stitched, but as shown, the hook and pile style of fastener 7 has been found most effective.

The outer surface of each the top and bottom surfaces is formed of a cloth material, while the inner surfaces are integrated with a wooly textured material, as at 8, formed upon the bottom surface, and at 9, is formed upon the interior of the top surface. Thus, when the leg and feet of the user are slid into the pouch, it effects warmth from the heat of the body, and to sustain such conditions throughout the night, as to be understood. It can be seen that the wooly texture has a line of demarcation between the surfaces 8 and 9, through the line of separation 10, as noted.

In the front view as shown in FIG. 2 , the top 3 and the bottom 4 at its fold line, can be formed of one piece of integral material. The side edges 5 and 6 are temporarily secured, by fasteners, and these may include the hook and pile style fasteners 7, as previously disclosed, but may include other types of fasteners, such as to be buttoned together, clasped, or secured by other means, such as a zipper. But, the hook and pile style of fastener has been found most effective, since the side edges of the pouch can be easily opened, by separations of such a fasteners, where it is desired to clean the pouch after extended usage.

FIG. 3 shows a side view of the edge 5 with the hook and pile fastener 7 arranged intermediate thereof.

FIG. 4 provides a top view of the device, and further discloses the line of separation between the wooly textured material 8 and 9, with the line of demarcation being noted at 10.

The bottom view is noted in FIG. 5 , and it can be seen that the fold line is provided at 4.

As noted in FIG. 6 , it can be seen that the entire pouch 1 can be opened, through separation of its hook and pile fasteners, as noted at 7, and when fully opened, will have a dimensional capacity in the range of a large bath towel, that can be easily inserted into the washing machine, and dryer, when it is necessary to cleanse the pouch. The wooly textured interior, as in 8 and 9, will be fully exposed to the processes of the washing machine, and the dryer, during its cleansing.

FIG. 7 shows a related pouch 1, but in this instance, the side edges are stitched permanently, as at 11, and 12, as can be noted.

FIG. 8 shows the pouch with a fastening means provided at 13, other various types of fasteners as previously explained to temporarily secure the side edges of the pouch together, during its usage. Other forms of fasteners could be, as for example, buttons, as in 14, or clasps, as in 15, can be utilized, to temporarily hold the side edges in securement, during its usage and application.

FIG. 9 shows another isometric view of the pouch 1 where it is stitched together along its side margins 5 and 6. It might also be noted that the edges 5 and 6 may be turned inwardly, as noted in 16, and stitched or otherwise secured, such as by hook and pile fastener, inwardly, rather than extended outward, as noted.

FIG. 10 shows another isometric view of the modified pouch 1, having its fastening means 17 provided intermediate and inside the edges, to temporarily secure the pouch into its usable condition, when preparing for its usage and application.

As to be noted, the side edges are cut along a slant, generally as noted in 18, so that the top opening 19 is wider that the bottom 20, that provides a little more convenience for the user, when initially sliding the legs into the pouch, in preparation for its nightly usage.

FIG. 11 shows another variation of the pouch 1, in this instance, the inside edges are secured together by segments of the shown hook and pile fasteners as at 21, as to be seen. FIG. 12 , as noted in cross section, shows how the hook and pile fasteners 21 can secure the side edges of the pouch together, during its routine usage, but can conveniently be separated, when it is necessary to clean the same. Also, one can readily see the location of the wooly textured surfaces 9 and 10 that are embodied interiorly of the outer fabric layers 2 and 3, as noted.

As previously noted, the inner surfaces of the formed pouch will have that fully wooly textured interior, like that of sheep or other skins, or such cloth may be polymer formed, of a type of imitation wool, that can generate and retain heat of the body when the ankle and feet of the user are located within the pouch. For example, such type polymer may be a polyester, that can be formed into a cloth like liner, and have the polymer wool texture upon its inner surface, when formed.

In the preferred embodiment of this pouch for providing foot warming, the various dimensions of the formed pouch may comprise the following. The upper opening, at its width, may be in the range 32″ to 36″ wide. The bottom of the pouch, at its fold line, may be in the range of 24″ to 28″ wide. The height of the pouch will be approximately 22″ to 26″ in length. These size dimensions for the pouch have been found most effective when it is applied upon the bed, and it is necessary to slidingly insert the ankles and feet into the pouch, in preparation for its usage and application.

Variations or modifications to the subject matter of this invention may occur to those skilled in the art upon the review of the development as provided herein. Such variations, if within the spirit of this invention are intended to be encompassed within the scope of the claims to patent protection issuing upon this invention. The definition of the invention as set forth in the Summary, and illustrated in the Description of the Preferred Embodiments, and as depicted in the Drawings, are set forth for illustrative purposes only. 

1. A soft textured pouch for foot warming, comprising an integral piece of textured fabric, having an outer cloth layer, and an interior layer for the pouch integrally formed of a wooly textured material, the integral fabric is folded over to form an opening to the pouch at its top, and having a fold line at its bottom, the pouch having side edges, and the side edges being temporarily secured together by means of fasteners, which when secured provide a pouch having a wooly textured surface interiorly thereof, while the fasteners can be opened, when it becomes necessary to cleanse the pouch after extended usage.
 2. The pouch of claim 1, wherein the fastener means provided for temporarily securing each side edge of the fabric together comprising hook and pile fastening means.
 3. A pouch of claim 1, wherein the fasteners provided securing each side of the fabric of the pouch together comprising one of buttons, clasps, and related fastener means.
 4. The pouch of claim 1 wherein the side edges for the pouch are formed upon a slant, to thereby provide a larger opening for the formed pouch at its top, than the smaller dimension for the pouch at its bottom.
 5. The pouch of claim 1 wherein the textured material is formed of a polymer.
 6. The pouch of claim 5 wherein the polymer is formed of a polyester. 